187 Shopping (2/2)

There were not many students like him who had an enormous amount of resources and underwent Deva sensing to officially become a musician after a few months in the school. Usually, those at this level could already request graduation. In fact, there were many in this class that paid money but were still in the Rhythm level.

With help from Gavin’s followers in the student council, it was natural that he was first. Banner reread the top ten list multiple times. After confirming that the white-haired b*stard was not in it, he nodded in satisfaction.

”What about that guy I told you to watch?” Banner asked.

”That Easterner?” Cullen thought for a moment. ”The last message was that he argued with his female companion and seemed sad. He sat down and didn’t move.”

”He’s like this because of a girl? I thought too highly of him.” Banner sneered and put his school badge back. ”Then let him keep spacing out. We need to hurry. The enchantment’s going to change soon. Everyone group together and don’t get lost.”

Under his command, the people crowded over. Someone cast a music score to connect everyone. Cullen lowered his head and hummed something as he bent over to draw a white line on the ground. The head and tail of the line connected, forming a ring around all of them.

The moment they finished, the bell sounded in the air again. The ringing resonated. The seemingly tangible bell stirred the air, creating ripples that spread outward. Everything in its path blurred.

In the shaking, everyone’s visions swam. In their dizziness, they could only feel the white mist rise out of nothing and swallow everything.

Before, the students were able to transform freely and the setting was in the campus that everyone was familiar with. It was time for the students to grow accustomed to the trial. But now, the short period was over.

All graduating students must choose a ballot and accept the object they were required to mimic. The setting would also be transformed into a random corner of the city, according to the aether memory read by the Requiem. Without a doubt, everything would become more complex and unfamiliar.

The mist changed dramatically and the bell rang.

Commotion could be heard deep within the mist, like the low voices of passerby and the loud voices of peddlers. The mist dispersed quickly and the blazing sun once again shone down on everyone’s heads. They were met with a dense stream of people.

Within the slowly disappearing white ring, Banner’s group were jostled and squeezed. They could barely stand straight. Looking around themselves, their expressions turned ugly.

”F*ck,” Cullen muttered. They had really hit the jackpot this time…

Under the bells of the tram carriages, the crowd surged at the large intersection. The passerby bustling against each other turned into a dense wave of people. There were peddlers pushing their carts along the road, fortune tellers sitting in the messy alleys with their crystal balls and homeless beggars with ragged overalls and shirts.

A carriage brushed past them. The old elite inside leaned on his cane and glared at the passerby outside. There was also a strange family emblem branded into the side of the carriage. It really looked like some elite’s carriage.

”Hey, what are you all doing there?” A mounted policeman wearing a copper helmet walked. He knocked his baton against his shoulder and examined them. ”Is this your first time in Avalon? Stop blocking traffic.”

They jumped to the side as if they had just woken from a dream and watched as the carriages galloped across the street on either side under the policeman’s conducting. Was this really the Royal Academy of Music?

Cullen sucked in a deep breath, confirming that he had not seen it incorrectly.

Yes, welcome to the heart of Avalon, the most flourishing part of the city—Queen’s Avenue!

-

Amidst the dense crowd on the long street, Ye Qingxuan stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled lazily, looking around. He hummed an unclear tune and murmured some words. At times, he would suddenly grab a person created from the enchantment and ask some questions like a prank. He would walk, stop, touch around and look around.

In the end, he even stopped by the old man playing an instrument on the street. He knew the man was fake, but he still pulled some coins out and tossed it into the man’s hat.

Behind him, the cautiously following students exchanged confused glances. Someone asked quietly, ”It’s already been half an hour. What is he doing?”

”…” The students were silent. Someone asked weakly, ”Maybe he’s…shopping?”